Formula 18 Golf

Formula 18 Golf

Courses / Best in state

Best Public Golf Courses in California

Experts + Golfers + Story + Architect + Challenge + Access = the Total Score

Top 10Top 50Top 100
  1. 1Pebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach · Resort · Est. 1919Jack Neville & Douglas Grant100ScoreSlope 144
  2. 2Spyglass Hill Golf CoursePebble Beach · Public · Est. 1966Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (1966)29ScoreSlope 145
  3. 3Pasatiempo GcSanta Cruz · Public · Est. 1929Alister MacKenzie29ScoreSlope 141
  4. 4TPC Stadium Golf Course (PGA West)La Quinta · Resort · Est. 1986Pete Dye28ScoreSlope 148
  5. 5Poppy Hills Golf CoursePebble Beach · Public · Est. 1986Robert Trent Jones Jr.28ScoreSlope 142
  6. 6Torrey Pines South CourseLa Jolla · Municipal · Est. 1957William F. Bell; redesigned by Rees Jones (2001)27ScoreSlope 148
  7. 7Silverado ResortNapa · ResortRobert Trent Jones Jr. (1966 redesign); later revisions by Johnny Miller27ScoreSlope 141
  8. 8Pelican Hill Golf ClubNewport Beach · Public · Est. 1991Tom Fazio27ScoreSlope 137
  9. 9Rancho Park Golf ClubLos Angeles · Municipal · Est. 1947William P. Bell and William H. Johnson27ScoreSlope 129
  10. 10Journey at PechangaPechanga · Public · Est. 2008Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest26ScoreSlope 142

How we rank

Public courses only — anyone can book a tee time (public, municipal, resort, semi-private, university). Each course gets a Formula 18 Golf Total Score out of 100, cited on its page. Expert lists, golfer stars, challenge, access and threads make the score. A notable architect and a real story add bonus points, and missing ones never count against a course. See the full formula →
Editor’s picks are placed by the Formula 18 Golf team. Played one that belongs higher? Tell us.